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“Olicity” Watch: Secrets and Lies Abound — Will Felicity Walk Again?

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

Instead of “Code of Silence,” last night’s Arrow episode should have been called “Secrets and Lies: A Case Study.” Some of our heroes pass the secret-keeping test with flying colors (looking good, Captain Lance), while some of them keep stupidly justifying their own terrible decisions (UGH, Oliver). Next week clearly marks the end of our golden “Olicity” days, so while we can still bask in the cute, here’s the “Olicity” Watch for 4×14, “Code of Silence”:

Recap:

HIVE tries to blow up Oliver’s debate as he takes on his new mayoral opponent: Damien Darhk’s wife. To be honest, I’m starting to ship Darhk and Ruve Adams more than almost anyone else on this show. They trust each other; he loves her enough to, uh, put down anyone who doubts her abilities; and they clearly have a shared vision for the future. Sure, that vision includes murdering thousands of innocent people, but at least they don’t seem to be keeping any big secrets from each other.

The same can’t be said of Oliver, who continues to shove his head so far into the sand he’ll likely never see daylight again. While Donna plans an engagement party and Quentin struggles with his decision not to tell her about HIVE, Oliver questions his own decision to keep his son a secret from Felicity. In perhaps one of the dumbest moves this show has ever made (and that’s saying something, trust me), Thea is the one who convinces him that lying to Felicity is a good idea. Yes, Thea. The girl who spent the past three years seriously pissed because people were keeping secrets from her for her own good. She suddenly decides that Oliver isn’t doing anything wrong. Right. Sure. Keep telling yourself that, Arrow writers.

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Luckily, there was still a lot of cute “Olicity” shoved in around all the ridiculous justifying. It’s like the writers knew we needed a couple happy moments before the proverbially shit hits the proverbially fan next week.

“Olicity” Moments:

Felicity hands Oliver the “very pink” engagement invitation her mom designed and then cringes when it explodes confetti all over him. “Maybe less glitter,” he says, hilariously deadpan.

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In the loft, Donna is in full party-planning mode, which apparently includes a lot of hot pink feathers. I love how coupley “Olicity” act as they attempt to talk Donna down off the ledge, clutch hands and try not to laugh/die inside when she suggests a round of “pin the junk on the hunk.” I’m proposing a new show: let’s lose the superhero angst and just follow these three around for the rest of their lives.

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Oliver asks Felicity to get info off a damaged laptop and it reminds her of the first time they met. “It’s kinda romantic,” she says, and Oliver heart-eyes at her so hard I’m worried he might give himself a medical condition.

The secrets & lies portion of the evening kicks into high-gear as Donna tells Felicity that she and Oliver are “one of those couples that everyone believes in,” because they “don’t lie to each other.” Oh man. It only gets worse when Oliver and Thea chat about his secret kid: “How can I marry Felicity if there’s this lie between us?” She convinces him he’s doing the right thing. I throw up a little in my mouth. If there’s anything good to say about the coming-break up, at least it will put an end to this awful, awful storyline.

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At the big debate, Felicity realizes HIVE wants to blow up the whole building: “Oliver, I need you.” That tiny line should not give me this many goosebumps, but it’s just so sweet. We get our first kiss of the evening when the action has died down and all is finally well. Why do I love these casual kisses almost more than the big makeouts? It’s like being a creepy fly-on-the-wall or something.

Right as the engagement party is about to start, Oliver and Felicity examine his poll numbers (no, that’s not a euphemism). “You at least have one voter in your camp. Meeee!” “Only one that matters.” STOP IT WITH ALL THE CUTE YOU TWO. Later, they’re all over each other at their party – touching arms, holding hands, making cute little jokes about slow cookers and champagne. Oliver is attentive and sweet and it’s almost impossible to tell that he’s a big liar who lies. Then Curtis shows up and gives them the best engagement present ever: he invented an implantable bio-stimulant that might help Felicity walk again. YAY! Our favorite couple is clearly moved, and Oliver can barely contain himself as he shakes Curtis’ hand and calls him terrific.

Kiss Count: Two. Casual, sweet, and perfect. Let’s revel in it while we can – I have a feeling these kisses are about to dry up damn pretty soon. Which: ew. But also, so sad! Please show, let’s get this manufactured drama over with soon so we can get back to the true magic and partnership that is “Olicity.”

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Best Moment: Felicity might be able to walk again!! I know it’s not strictly an “Olicity” scene, but the way Oliver’s eyes light up at the thought of Felicity walking is just…everything. She, uncharacteristically, can’t find the words, overwhelmed by what Curtis has done for her. It’s Oliver who speaks for both of them, and they’re just so in synch and in love and hopeful and it kills me that this is probably the last really sweet moment we’ll have for a while.

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Steamy or Loving: Despite some pretty obvious and ominous foreshadowing – not to mention the fact that Darhk has Oliver’s son – “Olicity” mostly came off as sweet and loving in “Code of Silence.” In the last “Olicity” Watch I talked about episode 13 being the calm before the storm. I was wrong: this episode was clearly our last reprieve before things go south next week. We got cute “Olicity,” playful “Olicity,” and loving “Olicity” – it’s like the perfect cocktail of shipping.

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Honestly though, I could have made a drinking game out of how many times the show referenced secrets and lying last night, but I probably would have been fall-down drunk by the first half hour. The problem is that the episode tried to walk two lines of reasoning: happy couples don’t lie to each other, but it’s OK to lie to someone to protect them. Huh? Sorry Arrow, just like Oliver you don’t get to have it both ways. And when Felicity finally finds out about William next week, our favorite couple is headed for some rocky waters. Prepare yourselves for the break up, people. It’s coming, and I highly doubt it will be pretty.

Rachel Carter grew up surrounded by trees and snow and mountains. She graduated from the University of Vermont and Columbia University, where she received her MFA in nonfiction writing. She is the author of the So Close to You series with Harperteen. These days you can find her working on her next novel in the woods of Vermont.